NIT 1st Round - Creighton vs Alabama (ESPN)

[admin]

Good to see Creighton win but my goodness, Alabama was awful.

[jfan]

Good to see Creighton win but my goodness, Alabama was awful.

It was worse in person. We played good defense, but except for three straight 3's late, Alabama couldn't hit anything. I don't think they are that bad, just going through a bad stretch at the end of the season. Pretty good for a mid-major handling a Power Conference team. Sir Charles revisited.

[CPJays]

The Big East depth is real. Creighton played toe to toe with the likes of Xavier, Providence and Seton Hall this year. The consistency wasn't there, but a game like this shows the differences that exist between an oft ignored Big East and the wildly overhyped SEC. It is damn hard to win games in this league.

I bet Marquette would have had a similar outcome against most of these NIT teams, a shame they aren't in. The Big East had 7 really solid teams this year with one wildly under achieving.

A damn good league that I am expecting to change perceptions in the tourney.

[JPSchmack]

Big East depth is absolutely real.

Creighton and Marquette are easily NCAA teams in a weaker league.

The SEC had four dreadful teams, three mediocre teams that were NIT quality at best, five teams people thought were good for most the season but got exposed as just as mediocre and NIT worthy as the previous three schools. And Texas A&M and Kentucky, legit NCAA teams.

But Vandy, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and LSU got to beat teams 11-14, barely play UK and A&M, so it took until the very last week of the season and Vandy STILL somehow made it in.

The Big East on the other hand, had 7 NCAA calibre teams this year, some years it’s more like nine. But while SOMEONE has to finish third in the SEC and get a bid by beating crap; SOMEONE in the Big East has to finish 7th and 8th and that’s too many losses to get NCAA consideration with an RPI like that.

Anyhow, worst of luck to your boys in round two if the Bonnies advance.

[billyjack]

Alabama was a bubble team until a week or 2 ago, and Creighton crushed them. I'm not surprised by the results. Alabama may have looked bad, but the Jays can do that to you. This is a really good win for the conference. And I agree with those that say Marquette would have also made a good run.

[stever20]

Big East record had no bearing on why Creighton and Marquette didn't make the tourney. It was because of their poor OOC schedule. 285 and 321. Creighton was 9-9 in conference play and Marquette was 8-10 in conference play.

Also those 2 finished 6th and 7th- not 7th and 8th.

Also I venture a guess there will never be a year with 9 NCAA caliber teams in the Big East. It's almost impossible quite frankly. Not even the Big 12 right now can say it or the old Big East way back when with 9 teams- never had 8 teams NCAA caliber.

[Omaha1]

Alabama was a bubble team until a week or 2 ago, and Creighton crushed them. I'm not surprised by the results. Alabama may have looked bad, but the Jays can do that to you. This is a really good win for the conference. And I agree with those that say Marquette would have also made a good run.

FWIW Alabama did beat Wichita State earlier this year, but last night they seemed disinterested and just plain bad.

[SJUBBALL]

Alabama was a bubble team until a week or 2 ago, and Creighton crushed them. I'm not surprised by the results. Alabama may have looked bad, but the Jays can do that to you. This is a really good win for the conference. And I agree with those that say Marquette would have also made a good run.

FWIW Alabama did beat Wichita State earlier this year, but last night they seemed disinterested and just plain bad.

That happens in the NIT. Teams just don't show up. Aka 2013 St John's team

[stever20]

Alabama was a bubble team until a week or 2 ago, and Creighton crushed them. I'm not surprised by the results. Alabama may have looked bad, but the Jays can do that to you. This is a really good win for the conference. And I agree with those that say Marquette would have also made a good run.

FWIW Alabama did beat Wichita State earlier this year, but last night they seemed disinterested and just plain bad.

That happens in the NIT. Teams just don't show up. Aka 2013 St John's team

Yep. Just like in football bowl games...

[gtmoBlue]

Big East depth is absolutely real.

Creighton and Marquette are easily NCAA teams in a weaker league.

The SEC had four dreadful teams, three mediocre teams that were NIT quality at best, five teams people thought were good for most the season but got exposed as just as mediocre and NIT worthy as the previous three schools. And Texas A&M and Kentucky, legit NCAA teams.

But Vandy, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and LSU got to beat teams 11-14, barely play UK and A&M, so it took until the very last week of the season and Vandy STILL somehow made it in.

The Big East on the other hand, had 7 NCAA calibre teams this year, some years it’s more like nine. But while SOMEONE has to finish third in the SEC and get a bid by beating crap; SOMEONE in the Big East has to finish 7th and 8th and that’s too many losses to get NCAA consideration with an RPI like that.

Anyhow, worst of luck to your boys in round two if the Bonnies advance.

+1 Great segue JP...excellent timing (as usual).

Looking forward to Olean. Bonnies are pretty good and usually play well at home (and whupped Martelli twice), however the Bonnies haven't played Creighton recently...Jays win.